Satchit SJB Rana

Satchit SJB Rana
(File Photo)
The high level judicial commission constituted to probe into suppression of the people’s movement 2006 has summoned four persons including former chief of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), Satchit Shumsher Rana, former law minister Niranjan Thapa, former additional inspector general (AIG) of Armed Police Force Raviraj Thapa and former additional inspector general (AIG) of Nepal Police, Krishna Basnet to record their statements at the commission’s office on Friday.

According to sources at the commission, they will be interrogated about their role in suppressing the people’s movement.

Former chief of RNA (now known as Nepali Army) did not hold any public office but was in the limelight for denouncing the pro-democracy movement and supporting the direct rule of the king. Former law minister Thapa is believed to be one of the key functionaries of the erstwhile royal governments.

Former AIGs Thapa and Basnet had been suspended by the Seven Party Alliance government as per the recommendation of the probe commission. Both of them have denied their involvement in suppression of the movement.

On Tuesday, the commission interrogated former no. 2 in the royal cabinet, Dr. Tulsi Giri, former minister Badri Prasad Mandal and former assistant minister Nikshya Shumsher Rana regarding their role in suppressing the people’s movement. Talking to reporters after recording their statements at the commission, all three denied their role in suppressing the movement.

The government had constituted a high level commission under the chairmanship of former Justice at the Supreme Court, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, to probe into atrocities committed against pro-demoracy activists across the country early this year resulting into the death of at least 21 persons and leaving around five thousand others.